About Tom Foley Photography

There are very few photographers in Minneapolis who would say they specialize in shooting nudes, but on occasion photographers do get asked--even in a conservative, mid-western town like Minneapolis--to photograph someone nude. The purpose is usually to give as a gift to a boyfriend or husband, and sometimes, the photographer’s subject simply want a record of how good they looked at a certain time in their life: they are in shape, their body is toned, and they look good. They want a documentation of that fact, done in a beautiful way.

Photographers, sometimes, just to keep things comfortable shooting nudes in a conservative place like Minneapolis, will have the husband or boyfriend in the studio during the shoot. The idea of “good taste” is often brought up in discussing nudes. My attitude is that I have certain standards beyond which I will not go. My subjects have their standards too. Both must be respected.

Having said that, my personal reaction to photographers shooting nudes in Minneapolis is very upbeat and positive. I love to shoot them. Nudes are one of the great classic traditions of all time for artists of all kinds. Great painters have painted them, great sculptors have sculpted them, and great photographers have photographed them. They offer an endless variety of shapes and textures, and a great opportunity to do beautiful “chiaroscuro” lighting.